Best Graduate Certificate Online Courses

Share this

If you’ve got your Bachelor’s degree and are looking for a cherry on top, then read on.

A Graduate Certificate will provide you with more specific skills and knowledge, making you much more attractive to potential employers.

What is a Graduate Certificate?

A Graduate Certificate is a postgraduate qualification that falls in between a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree on the qualifications framework. It is similar to a Graduate Diploma, only it takes less time, usually costs less and ranks just beneath it on the ladder.

Graduate Certificates are ideal for people who have a general Bachelor’s degree, but who would like an additional qualification that focuses more specifically on one area, or people who would like to explore a new area without committing to a Graduate Diploma or Master’s degree study.

Important

Who provides Graduate Certificates?

Because a Graduate Certificate falls in between a Bachelor's and Master’s you should find that many providers of Master’s degrees offer Graduate Certificates in the same area. The areas covered are similar, in fact, it is occasionally possible to use credits earned during a Graduate Certificate to contribute towards a Master’s degree, though you will have to check with your provider to see if this is possible.

What are the expenses?

The cost of your Graduate Certificate will vary depending on your provider and institution, but as a general rule, a Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain Management at Curtin University is expected to cost $13,500, and other programs should fall in or around that benchmark.

It should also be kept in mind that this cost does not include any travel expenses or additional learning materials that you might need to complete your course. Neither does it include the cost that may be incurred for any time that you need to take off your present job to study for exams. To get a full understanding of fees and costs, be sure to contact the student services at your provider before you enrol.

If money is a concern then be sure to check if you’re eligible for any assistance. Some students will be eligible for Vocational Education and Training (VET) Fee-Help.

On which subjects is the Graduate Certificate provided?

The subjects in which Graduate Certificates are available are vast. Again, because they’re often taken from the same curriculum as Master’s degrees, many providers who offer Master’s degrees will often provide Graduate Certificates in the same field, although this is by no means a hard rule. If you are considering an online qualification though, be sure to look through our full guides to the best courses available, organised by subject.

Who is eligible for Graduate Certificate study?

In order to enrol in a Graduate Certificate you usually need a Bachelor’s degree in a similar or relevant field. This is postgraduate study, so expect a challenging workload and level of knowledge.

If you’re looking for a course to try out a subject, or to dip your toes in a new career, then you may find this study a little advanced. You could instead consider an Undergraduate Certificate. Keep reading through our course guides to get a sense of which qualification your current level of education is best suited to.

What is the duration?

Graduate Certificates usually take between 6 months and 12 months to complete, though if you’re balancing a busy life or career this can be increased to allow you more time. Some courses do, however, come with a time limit in which studies must be completed, so be sure to check the terms and conditions of your course before you enrol, to ensure that you select a program you can realistically complete.

What are the career opportunities?

With many graduates finding that their undergraduate degree is not enough to get them on the career leader, this is a good time to think about postgraduate education. However, many people find Master’s degrees to be too long, expensive, or too in depth for their needs.

The Graduate Certificate offers a useful middle ground. It provides a postgraduate degree and a high level of learning, but it is a much shorter and less expensive course of study, allowing you to work alongside your course or to take just a short period outside of the working world.

Ask an Expert

Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank
details) as your question will be made public

finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or
product provider

We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations

Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions
below to see if yours has already been asked

Your Question

Subscribe to the Finder newsletter for the latest money tips and tricks

Notify me via email when there is a reply

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, read the PDS or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Disclaimer - Hive Empire Pty Ltd (trading as finder.com.au, ABN: 18 118 785 121) provides factual information, general advice and services on financial products as a Corporate Authorised Representative (432664) of Advice Evolution Pty Ltd AFSL 342880. Please refer to our FSG - Financial Products. We also provide general advice on credit products under our own Credit Licence ACL 385509. Please refer to our Credit Guide for more information. We can also provide you with general advice and factual information on about a range of other products, services and providers. We are also a Corporate Authorised Representative of Countrywide Tolstrup Financial Services Group Pty Ltd. ABN 51 586 953 292 AFSL 244436 for the provision of general insurance products. Please refer to our FSG - General Insurance. We hope that the information and general advice we can provide will help you make a more informed decision. We are not owned by any Bank or Insurer and we are not a product issuer or a credit provider. Although we cover a wide range of products, providers and services we don't cover every product, provider or service available in the market so there may be other options available to you. We also don't recommend specific products, services or providers. If you decide to apply for a product or service through our website you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product or service and not with us. We endeavour to ensure that the information on this site is current and accurate but you should confirm any information with the product or service provider and read the information they can provide. If you are unsure you should get independent advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan. (c) 2017.

Feedback

How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely

Required

Required

Required

Optional, only if you want us to follow up with you.

By submitting your email, you agree to the finder.com.au Privacy Policy

Thank you for your feedback.

Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.

Important information about this website

finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of major banks, insurers and product issuers.

finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product. You should consider whether the products featured on our site are appropriate for your needs and seek independent advice if you have any questions.

The identification of a group of products, as 'Top' or 'Best' is a reflection of user preferences based on current website data. On a regular basis, analytics drive the creation of a list of popular products. Where these products are grouped, they appear in no particular order.

Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment.

We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.

Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.

Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.

Please read our website terms of use for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.